Food delivery container

ABSTRACT

A delivery system includes a container having a base portion defining at least one cavity therein. At least one wheel is mounted proximate a first end of the base portion. A handle is mounted proximate a second end of the base portion. A lid portion is movable relative to the base portion to selective open and close the at least one cavity in the base portion. A cable is secured to at least one of the base portion or the lid portion. A hook is secured to the cable. The hook is configured to be secured to a house door, such that the container can be secured near the house door to receive deliveries securely.

BACKGROUND

More products are being delivered directly to consumers at their home than ever before. While convenient, this has led to a few common problems. First, these deliveries may be stolen while they are left outside the home, especially if the purchaser is not home. Additionally, some food deliveries, especially items that need to be cool or frozen, cannot be left outside for long.

Secured containers for receiving delivered items have been proposed; however, these containers are bulky and large. They would be kept in front of the house even when not in use.

SUMMARY

A secured delivery system is disclosed herein that is easily movable into a house or garage when not in use. The delivery system includes a container having a base portion defining at least one cavity therein. At least one wheel is mounted proximate a first end of the base portion. A handle is mounted proximate a second end of the base portion. A lid portion is movable relative to the base portion to selective open and close the at least one cavity in the base portion. A cable is secured to at least one of the base portion or the lid portion. A hook is secured to the cable. The hook is configured to be secured to a house door, such that the container can be secured near the house door to receive deliveries securely.

Optionally, a cooling liner may be received in the container. The cooling liner may keep refrigerated food items cool or frozen for a period of time until the purchaser can retrieve them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a delivery system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the delivery system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a first side view of the delivery system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a second side view of the delivery system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the delivery system of FIG. 1 with the lid open.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the upper lock portion of the delivery system of FIG. 1 showing electronic components.

FIG. 7 is partially exploded perspective view of the delivery system of FIG. 1 with an optional removable liner.

FIG. 8 shows the delivery system of FIG. 7 with the liner installed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hook of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 shows the delivery system of FIG. 1 secured to a door.

FIG. 11 is an interior view of the delivery system and door of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows the delivery system of FIG. 8 with items received therein.

FIG. 13 shows the container of the delivery system in an upright position in which it can be rolled.

FIG. 14 shows the container of FIG. 13 being moved by a user.

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the user and container of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a delivery system 10 including a container 12, a cable 14 and a door hook 16. The door hook 16 is configured and sized to be secured to a door of a home, for example. The cable 14 connects the door hook 16 to the container 12. A delivery, such as food, can be placed in the container 12, which is then locked. The container 12 may also keep the delivery (such as food) cool.

The container 12 includes a base portion 18 and a lid portion 20 that are elongated such that the container 12 is oblong. In this example, the lid portion 20 has an upper wall that is half-cylindrical with vertical front and rear walls, and with side portions that are quarter spherical and extending down vertically. The base portion 18 is generally the mirror image of the lid portion 20 in terms of size and shape, but also has gusset portions 32 for stabilizing the base portion 18 on a flat surface. Wheels 22 are mounted at one end of the base portion 18, slightly above the floor when the container 12 is in the horizontal position shown. An end handle 30 is hingeably secured to one side of the base portion 18, opposite the wheels 22.

A lock assembly 24 selectively connects a front of the lid portion 20 to a front of the base portion 18. An indicator light 60 is visible on the lock assembly 24. The rear of the lid portion 20 is hingeably connected to the rear of the base portion 18. Handle recesses 26 may be formed in the front of the lid portion 20 to facilitate lifting open the lid portion 20.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the container 12 of FIG. 1. The lid portion 20 is molded as a single piece of plastic (such as via injection molding or thermoforming or rotomolding). The lid portion 20 includes a lip 28 protruding outward from a lower edge thereof. The handle recesses 26 are molded into the front of the lid portion 20 just above the lip 28, as is the housing for the upper portion of the lock assembly 24.

The base portion 18 is molded as a single piece of plastic (such as via injection molding or thermoforming or rotomolding). As shown, the gussets 32 provide stability on a flat surface, such as a porch. The end handle 30 is hingeably secured to one side of the base portion 18, opposite the wheels 22.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views of the container 12. A hinge 33 connects the rear wall of the lid portion 20 to the rear wall of the base portion 18. Referring to FIG. 4, the side of the base portion 18 above the wheels 22 includes a locking feature 34 for securing to the cable 14 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the cable 14 could be secured to the lid portion 20.

FIG. 5 shows the container 12 in the open position, with the lid portion 20 pivoted on the hinge 33 relative to the base portion 18, after releasing the lock assembly 24. As shown, the lock assembly 24 includes an upper lock portion 50 secured to the lid portion 20 and a lower lock portion 48 secured to the base portion 18. Activation of the lock assembly 24 secures the upper lock portion 50 to the lower lock portion 48 (and the lid portion 20 to the base portion 18 in the closed position (FIG. 1)).

The base portion 18 and the lid portion 20 each define approximately half of the container's 12 interior volume. The base portion 18 and lid portion 20 may be divided into more than one cavity. In the example shown, the base portion 18 includes a first interior cavity 40 and a second interior cavity 42. The first interior cavity 40 and the second interior cavity 42 may each comprise approximately half of the base portion 18. A dividing wall 36 separates the first interior cavity 40 from the second interior cavity 42. The dividing wall 36 may be a double wall for providing some insulation between the cavities 40, 42. The lid portion 20 includes matching cavities and a matching, aligned dividing wall 38.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, schematic view of the upper lock portion 50. The upper lock portion 50 may include a CPU 52. The upper lock portion 50 may also include one or more communication circuits 54 (e.g. wifi, BlueTooth, cell data, etc.), a lock actuator 56, a temperature sensor 58, and an indicator light 60, all communicating with the CPU 52 and controlled by the CPU 52.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the first interior cavity 40 may include a removable freezable soft cooler liner 44. An upper liner 46 can be placed in the corresponding cavity of the lid portion 20. The cooler liners 44, 46 are flexible and can be folded and placed in a freezer. When chilled, the liners 44, 46 can be placed in the cavities. When frozen and/or refrigerated food is placed in the first interior cavity 40, within the liners 44, 46, the liners 44, 46 help keep the food cool and/or frozen. Alternatively, the liners 44, 46 can simply provide insulation

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the door hook 16 secured to the end of the cable 14. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, in operation, the container 12 may be placed outside the user's door (e.g. on a porch) with the cable 14 leading to the hook 16, which has been secured to the door 70. The hook 16 can be positioned when the door 70 is open and then retained when the door 70 is closed and locked. The hook 16 cannot be removed from the door 70 until the door 70 is open.

Referring to FIG. 10, a delivery person approaching the container 12 can connect with the lock assembly 24 (specifically, the communication circuit 54 of FIG. 6) using their mobile device, such as a smartphone 72 or tablet. By entering a code and/or providing authorization via an app, the phone 72 sends a signal to the cpu 52 to unlock the lock actuator 56, thereby unlocking the lock assembly 24. The delivery person can then open the container 12 and place the delivery items 74 in the container, such as is shown in FIG. 12. Refrigerated items 74 can be placed in the cooler liners 44, 46, while other items can be placed in the second cavity 42 (ambient). The indicator light 60 is then illuminated to indicate that a delivery has been made. Later, the resident can open the container 12 using their own smartphone (or other mobile device). Alternatively the indicator light 60 may indicate whether the container 12 is locked or unlocked.

As shown in FIGS. 13-15, the container can then be moved by lifting one end with the handle 30 and rolling the container 12 on the wheels 22. The resident can move the container 12 back into the home or garage when the resident is not expected a delivery.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent preferred embodiments of the inventions. However, it should be noted that the inventions can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers on method steps are solely for ease in reference in dependent claims and such identifiers by themselves do not signify a required sequence of performance, unless otherwise explicitly specified. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A delivery system comprising: a base portion defining at least one cavity therein; at least one wheel mounted to the base portion; and a lid portion movable relative to the base portion to selective open and close the at least one cavity in the base portion.
 2. The delivery system of claim 1 further including a handle mounted to the base portion opposite the at least one wheel.
 3. The delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base portion and the lid portion are oblong.
 4. The delivery system of claim 3 wherein the lid portion and the base portion together define a container and wherein the lid portion and the base portion each define approximately half of an interior volume of the container.
 5. The delivery system of claim 4 further including a cable connected to the base portion.
 6. The delivery system of claim 5 further including a hook connected by the cable to the base portion.
 7. The delivery system of claim 6 further including a lock assembly selectively securing the lid portion to the base portion.
 8. The delivery system of claim 7 wherein the lock assembly includes a communication circuit and is configured to be unlocked based upon a signal from a mobile device.
 9. The delivery system of claim 8 further including at least one lower dividing wall in the base portion.
 10. The delivery system of claim 9 further including at least one upper dividing wall in the lid portion, the at least one upper dividing wall aligned with the at least one lower dividing wall when the lid portion is closed onto the base portion.
 11. The delivery system of claim 10 wherein the hook is configured to be received under a door and to hook onto the door.
 12. The delivery system of claim 11 wherein the hook is secured to the door.
 13. The delivery system of claim 12 further including a liner received in the base portion.
 14. The delivery system of claim 13 wherein the lid portion has an upper wall that is half-cylindrical with vertical front and rear walls.
 15. The delivery system of claim 14 wherein the base portion is generally a mirror image of the lid portion, and wherein the base portion has gusset portions for stabilizing the base portion on a flat surface.
 16. A delivery system comprising: a base portion defining at least one cavity therein; at least one wheel mounted proximate a first end of the base portion; a handle mounted proximate a second end of the base portion; a lid portion movable relative to the base portion to selective open and close the at least one cavity in the base portion; a cable secured to at least one of the base portion or the lid portion; and a hook secured to the cable.
 17. The delivery system of claim 16 wherein the lid portion and the base portion together define a container and wherein the lid portion and the base portion each define approximately half of an interior volume of the container.
 18. The delivery system of claim 17 wherein the lid portion has an upper wall that is half-cylindrical with vertical front and rear walls.
 19. The delivery system of claim 18 wherein the base portion is generally a mirror image of the lid portion, and wherein the base portion has gusset portions for stabilizing the base portion on a flat surface.
 20. The delivery system of claim 18 wherein the lid portion and the base portion are oblong and are connected by a hinge along one long edge and a lock assembly at an opposite long edge. 